Signature Events & Thought-Leadership Programs
Libi Sprow Rice oversaw the signature events and thought leadership programs of The Executive Leadership Council for more than a decade as its Vice President and Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, with a background in experiential marketing and executive-level programs at Discovery Communications and CEB.
We help organizations transform events from standalone activities into strategic platforms for engagement, visibility, partnerships and thought leadership.
Decide what the event is for before you book the room
An event is the most expensive thing most organizations do all year, and the easiest to run on autopilot. Our work starts with event strategy: what the summit, forum or roundtable is supposed to change. A relationship with policymakers? A reputation on an issue? A partner pipeline? A community that feels heard? The answer shapes everything from the guest list to the follow-up.
Program design and speaker strategy then build an agenda people will clear a day for, with speaker positioning that puts your own leaders where they belong on the stage. Audience engagement is designed rather than hoped for, sponsorship integration gives partners a genuine role, and event messaging ties the day to the organization’s larger story. Executive communications prepare your leadership for the remarks, the panel and the hallway.
The platform is bigger than the day. Pre- and post-event communications and stakeholder follow-up are planned from the beginning, so the conversations that start in the room continue afterward, and a thought-leadership program can carry an organization’s voice through the year between events.
The event work we take on
- Event strategy
- Summit and forum development
- Program design
- Speaker strategy
- Audience engagement
- Executive communications
- Sponsorship integration
- Partner engagement
- Event messaging
- Thought-leadership programming
- Pre- and post-event communications
- Stakeholder follow-up
The kinds of programs we build
Leadership summits and conferences
Multi-session programs that position an organization as the convener on its issue.
Policy forums and executive roundtables
Smaller rooms where policymakers, executives and advocates can speak candidly and leave with next steps.
Community conversations and advocacy events
Public programs that build trust and turn attendance into participation in a campaign or coalition.
Events are where the other practices meet in person
Strategic Partnerships & Sponsorship Development
Sponsorship packages, partner proposals and stewardship that make an event pay for itself.
Learn more →Executive Communications & Thought Leadership
The remarks, the panel appearance and the op-ed that extends the event’s reach.
Learn more →Community Engagement & Coalition Building
Listening sessions, forums and public meetings that belong to a larger engagement strategy.
Learn more →Tell us about the event and what it has to accomplish
The date if there is one, the audience, the partners you hope to involve, and the outcome you would call a success the morning after.